Brazil: Industrial production contracts in January
In January, industrial production contracted 2.4% over the previous month in seasonally-adjusted terms, contrasting the revised 3.1% increase (previously reported: +2.8% month-on-month) registered in December. The result marked the sharpest contraction since February 2016.
Behind the fall was a broad-based contraction in the production of consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods.
In annual terms, however, industrial production rose 5.7% in January, which was above December’s 4.5% increase and marked an almost five-year high. Annual average growth in industrial production was 2.7% in January, up from 2.4% in December and the best result since July 2011.